MARQUETTE — A driver's car partially sunk in Lake Puckaway Saturday after driving on the ice.
In a video posted by the Wautoma Police Department, someone tried to drive their car over the lake ice. Not far from the shore, the ice cracked and the lake started to swallow the car. The driver can be seen jumping out of the vehicle before it sank any further.
Watch:
The ice measured about 4 inches thick, but it was not enough to handle the weight of the driver's hatchback.
The Department of Natural Resources said many ice covers at this time of year, especially with the fluctuation in temperatures, may look solid but are often far too weak to support people or vehicles.
It is important to remember the DNR does not monitor local ice conditions for the public, but fishing shops, clubs or outfitters sometimes do. Checking in with them is a good way to see if anglers will be on top or below the ice.
For safety on the ice, the DNR recommends always carrying a cell phone, wearing a life jacket, attaching creepers to boots and staying away from unfamiliar areas — especially at night.
While safety is the name of the game, ice fishing is a proud Midwest tradition. NBC 26 viewers told us about their experience ice fishing on the same lake in the same day.
Carson turns 16 on Monday and leading up to his birthday, he caught a whopping 32-inch northern pike.
Luck was in the water for some, because Carson also landed a 23-inch catfish.
